Nursing chiefs warn of workforce danger

Published:11:00Thursday 29 December 2016

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The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned that a controversial programme of NHS changes could harm the future nursing workforce and endanger services if the plans are not open to proper scrutiny by local patients and community groups.

Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) are being developed to change health and social care services across England and have forecast a total shortfall of £22bn by 2020/21.

There are three STPs in the North West, with a total funding gap of over £3.4bn. However in the Autumn Statement on 23 November the Chancellor failed to set out any new funding to support the scale of the changes.

Without extra funding from the Government the gap will have to be made up by reducing or centralising services.

STPs are proposing significant changes to the shape, composition and size of the healthcare workforce, with some including an increased use of non-registered nursing roles in order to increase savings.

Many recent studies have highlighted the important link between the proportion of registered nurses and improved patient mortality.

The RCN says that the timescale for STPs, which will see plans agreed and up and running by April 2017, has meant that plans have been drawn up without meaningful engagement and proper consultation with staff, patients and the local communities that use services.

RCN North West Regional Director, Estephanie Dunn said: “The scale of change described in the STP plans just cannot be delivered with the current funding levels provided to the NHS.

“The Government should recognise the extra investment needed by local health leaders and provide the funding needed to guarantee a truly 21st century health service.

“Staff, patients and trade unions must be given the opportunity to engage in the STP process. It beggars belief that such far-reaching and potentially de-stabilising changes to the NHS could take effect before there has been any meaningful dialogue with the public, patients or staff.

“The importance of having enough skilled nurses in the NHS cannot be overstated. Yet education budgets for continued professional development have been drastically reduced, compromising the capacity to train and prepare nursing staff for new ways of working.

“The Government has to do much more to reassure staff and patients that STPs aren’t simply for driving forward cuts to services and costs.”